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borax versus washing soda

Borax vs. Washing Soda: What’s the Difference? Plus Everything Else We Need to Know

/Updated /18 Comments/in /by Mary Hunt

When it comes to doing laundry, sometimes you need a little extra help to tackle tough stains, eliminate odors, and make your clothes cleaner and fresher. That’s where laundry boosters like borax and washing soda can come in. In this post, we’ll compare these two popular laundry additives, exploring their similarities, differences, and the various ways you can use them to supercharge your laundry routine.

borax versus washing soda

BoraxWhat is Borax?

Borax, also known as sodium borate, is a naturally occurring mineral composed of sodium, boron, oxygen, and water. Because of its excellent ability to clean and deodorize, people have used it for decades as a laundry booster—a true laundry workhorse! Twenty Mule Team is one brand name for borax—there are others. 

How does borax work in laundry?

  1. Stain Removal: Borax is known for its stain-fighting abilities. It works by softening water and enhancing your detergent’s cleaning power, making it easier to remove stubborn stains.
  2. Odor Control: Borax can help eliminate odors from your laundry, leaving your clothes smelling fresh.
  3. Whitening: It also has whitening properties, making it practical for brightening white fabrics.

A box of arm and hammer super washing sodaWhat is Washing Soda?

Washing soda, also known as soda ash or sodium carbonate, is another laundry additive that has gained popularity.

How does washing soda work in laundry?

  1. Water Softening: Like borax, washing soda softens water, which can improve the effectiveness of your detergent, particularly in hard water areas.
  2. Grease and Stain Removal: It excels at breaking down grease and stains, making it a great addition to your laundry routine if you deal with oily or heavily soiled clothes.
  3. Brightening: Washing soda can also help brighten whites and colors.

Compare: Borax vs. Washing Soda

Now that we’ve explored the individual merits of borax and washing soda let’s compare them:

  • Ingredients: Borax is a naturally occurring mineral, while Super Washing Soda is a commercial trade name for common soda ash. Both are considered safe for the environment when used as directed.
  • Stain Removal: Both borax and washing soda are effective at removing the stain, but washing soda is preferred because it has superior grease-cutting abilities.
  • Whitening: Borax is known for its whitening properties and is the preferred choice for brightening white fabrics.
  • Odor Control: Borax is better known for its odor-control abilities, making it a suitable choice for freshening laundry.

How to Use Borax in Laundry

  1. Add 1/2 cup of borax to your washer along with your regular detergent.
  2. Dissolve borax in hot water before adding it to your machine for extra stain-fighting power.

How to Use Washing Soda in Laundry

  1. Add 1/2 cup of washing soda to your washing machine with your detergent.
  2. For heavily soiled or greasy items, consider pre-soaking them in a washing soda and water solution before washing.

Safety

Both borax and washing soda are generally safe for laundry use, but it’s essential to follow these safety guidelines:

  1. Keep them out of reach of children and pets.
  2. Avoid ingesting or inhaling the powder.
  3. Use as directed on the packaging.

Septic Systems

Good news! Both borax and washing soda are septic-system safe.

 

Conclusion

In the battle of borax vs. washing soda, the winner depends on your specific needs. Borax is an excellent all-around laundry booster with odor control and whitening properties, while washing soda is the go-to choice for tackling tough stains and grease.

Experiment with both to see which one works best for your laundry needs, and don’t forget to check for any specific laundry guidelines on your clothing labels. Whichever you choose, you can enjoy cleaner, fresher, and more stain-free laundry with the power of these laundry boosters in your arsenal.

Resources

Both borax and washing soda are available in most grocery, supermarket, and discount department stores. You can also find these products online.

The most well-known brand of borax is Twenty Mule Team Borax. Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda is the most readily available brand of washing soda. However, you can easily purchase these exact products under  generic or less-known brands or labels.

Here are examples of the foregoing at Amazon:

 

Borax 20 Mule Team Detergent Booster, 65 Oz.
Borax 20 Mule Team Detergent Booster, 65 Oz.
Buy on Amazon
Harris Borax Powder Hard Water Laundry Booster and Powerful Multi-Purpose Cleaner, 1.5lb (Unscented)
Harris Borax Powder Hard Water Laundry Booster and...
$14.99
Buy on Amazon
Harris Washing Soda, Sodium Carbonate, Laundry Booster and Multipurpose Cleaner, No Additives or Fragrances, 10lb
Harris Washing Soda, Sodium Carbonate, Laundry...
$33.99
Buy on Amazon
PURE ORIGINAL INGREDIENTS Natural Washing Soda (1 Gallon) Sodium Carbonate, Stain Remover, Water Softener, Multi-Purpose Cleaner
PURE ORIGINAL INGREDIENTS Natural Washing Soda...
$37.99
Buy on Amazon

 

Updated: 1-18-24

 

We participate in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites, at no additional cost to you. Thanks!

 

 

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Last update on 2026-07-17 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

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18 replies
    • Mary Hunt says:

      Borax. And for a challenging situation I would soak that item(s) in a bucket of very hot water in which I have desolved 1/2 cup borax. Soak overnight then launder as usual. If that odor has been laundered and dryed in the dryer it may take a repeat or two to fully eradicate the odor.

      Reply
    • Mary Hunt says:

      I use borax in every load—whites, colors, everything. The only time I wouldn’t add borax is when I know something is not colorfast. Washing soda does not brighten/whiten as well as borax.

      Reply
  3. Roxy says:

    I love using the Borax and the Lestoil I have saved lots of my clothes from stains. And use the Lestoil for lots of other household jobs. I have continued to pass these two cleaners on to others as needed to help them like you have helped me.

    Reply
  4. JanetA says:

    How would you add Borax to a front-loading machine, which has a very small space to add detergent? It’s very hard to figure out how to add vinegar, borax, or other items in our apartment laundry room washers!

    Reply
  5. Polly B Deal says:

    Be aware of buying another brand. I bought Milliard Borax Powder Detergent Booster. I always sprinkle a little in my toilet before I scrub. I sprinkled this off brand, and it hardened up like cement. Upon reading the back of the bag, the ingredients say: SODIUM TETRABORATE PENTAHYDRATE.
    I can’t imagine what would have happened to my washer if I added a 1/2 cup like I do of Arm and Hammer. And how can it be labeled as Borax Powder if it is not sodium borate! Now I am wondering what this product might be good for, or just toss it so I don’t damage anything else!

    Reply
  7. linda says:

    ok, i’m confused. one soda is listed as 18/oz and the other at 41/load. how many ounces in a load? also, i know they are combined in your detergent, which i’ve used for years, but can you use 1/4 cup each in one load?
    many thanks

    Reply
  8. Jill says:

    Hi,
    I know this will sound like a silly question but if you dissolve the Borax in water before adding it to the washer, how do you add it to a washer that opens on the side? Do you add the borax and water into the washing machine where the liquid detergents goes?
    thanks,
    Jill

    Reply
  9. Kelley Gill says:

    Hi Mary, your homemade laundry detergent uses both of these, plus fels naptha/zote. So are both of these ‘boosting’ the fels naptha/zote? thank you!

    Reply

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